diff --git a/blame.c b/blame.c
index 99ceea81df..88bfec262f 100644
--- a/blame.c
+++ b/blame.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ static void free_patch(struct patch *p)
 	free(p);
 }
 
-static int get_blob_sha1_internal(unsigned char *sha1, const char *base,
+static int get_blob_sha1_internal(const unsigned char *sha1, const char *base,
 				  int baselen, const char *pathname,
 				  unsigned mode, int stage);
 
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ static int get_blob_sha1(struct tree *t, const char *pathname,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int get_blob_sha1_internal(unsigned char *sha1, const char *base,
+static int get_blob_sha1_internal(const unsigned char *sha1, const char *base,
 				  int baselen, const char *pathname,
 				  unsigned mode, int stage)
 {
diff --git a/builtin-ls-tree.c b/builtin-ls-tree.c
index 48385d59f6..b8d0d88ba8 100644
--- a/builtin-ls-tree.c
+++ b/builtin-ls-tree.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static int show_recursive(const char *base, int baselen, const char *pathname)
 	}
 }
 
-static int show_tree(unsigned char *sha1, const char *base, int baselen,
+static int show_tree(const unsigned char *sha1, const char *base, int baselen,
 		     const char *pathname, unsigned mode, int stage)
 {
 	int retval = 0;
diff --git a/builtin-read-tree.c b/builtin-read-tree.c
index 629d151639..6a2ceba9ce 100644
--- a/builtin-read-tree.c
+++ b/builtin-read-tree.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "object.h"
 #include "tree.h"
 #include "cache-tree.h"
+#include "tree-walk.h"
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include "builtin.h"
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ static struct tree_entry_list df_conflict_list = {
 
 typedef int (*merge_fn_t)(struct cache_entry **src);
 
-static int entcmp(char *name1, int dir1, char *name2, int dir2)
+static int entcmp(const char *name1, int dir1, const char *name2, int dir2)
 {
 	int len1 = strlen(name1);
 	int len2 = strlen(name2);
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ static int unpack_trees_rec(struct tree_entry_list **posns, int len,
 	int src_size = len + 1;
 	do {
 		int i;
-		char *first;
+		const char *first;
 		int firstdir = 0;
 		int pathlen;
 		unsigned ce_size;
@@ -162,9 +163,10 @@ static int unpack_trees_rec(struct tree_entry_list **posns, int len,
 			}
 
 			if (posns[i]->directory) {
+				struct tree *tree = lookup_tree(posns[i]->sha1);
 				any_dirs = 1;
-				parse_tree(posns[i]->item.tree);
-				subposns[i] = posns[i]->item.tree->entries;
+				parse_tree(tree);
+				subposns[i] = create_tree_entry_list(tree);
 				posns[i] = posns[i]->next;
 				src[i + merge] = &df_conflict_entry;
 				continue;
@@ -188,7 +190,7 @@ static int unpack_trees_rec(struct tree_entry_list **posns, int len,
 
 			any_files = 1;
 
-			memcpy(ce->sha1, posns[i]->item.any->sha1, 20);
+			memcpy(ce->sha1, posns[i]->sha1, 20);
 			src[i + merge] = ce;
 			subposns[i] = &df_conflict_list;
 			posns[i] = posns[i]->next;
@@ -369,7 +371,7 @@ static int unpack_trees(merge_fn_t fn)
 	if (len) {
 		posns = xmalloc(len * sizeof(struct tree_entry_list *));
 		for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-			posns[i] = ((struct tree *) posn->item)->entries;
+			posns[i] = create_tree_entry_list((struct tree *) posn->item);
 			posn = posn->next;
 		}
 		if (unpack_trees_rec(posns, len, prefix ? prefix : "",
@@ -800,19 +802,31 @@ static int read_cache_unmerged(void)
 
 static void prime_cache_tree_rec(struct cache_tree *it, struct tree *tree)
 {
-	struct tree_entry_list *ent;
-	int cnt;
+	struct tree_desc desc;
+	int cnt = 0;
 
 	memcpy(it->sha1, tree->object.sha1, 20);
-	for (cnt = 0, ent = tree->entries; ent; ent = ent->next) {
-		if (!ent->directory)
+	desc.buf = tree->buffer;
+	desc.size = tree->size;
+
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *name;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &name, &mode);
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+
+		if (!S_ISDIR(mode))
 			cnt++;
 		else {
 			struct cache_tree_sub *sub;
-			struct tree *subtree = (struct tree *)ent->item.tree;
+			struct tree *subtree;
+
+			subtree = lookup_tree(sha1);
 			if (!subtree->object.parsed)
 				parse_tree(subtree);
-			sub = cache_tree_sub(it, ent->name);
+			sub = cache_tree_sub(it, name);
 			sub->cache_tree = cache_tree();
 			prime_cache_tree_rec(sub->cache_tree, subtree);
 			cnt += sub->cache_tree->entry_count;
diff --git a/builtin-rev-list.c b/builtin-rev-list.c
index 5277d3cf12..6e2b898cca 100644
--- a/builtin-rev-list.c
+++ b/builtin-rev-list.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static struct object_list **process_tree(struct tree *tree,
 					 const char *name)
 {
 	struct object *obj = &tree->object;
-	struct tree_entry_list *entry;
+	struct tree_desc desc;
 	struct name_path me;
 
 	if (!revs.tree_objects)
@@ -128,18 +128,25 @@ static struct object_list **process_tree(struct tree *tree,
 	me.up = path;
 	me.elem = name;
 	me.elem_len = strlen(name);
-	entry = tree->entries;
-	tree->entries = NULL;
-	while (entry) {
-		struct tree_entry_list *next = entry->next;
-		if (entry->directory)
-			p = process_tree(entry->item.tree, p, &me, entry->name);
+
+	desc.buf = tree->buffer;
+	desc.size = tree->size;
+
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *name;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &name, &mode);
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+
+		if (S_ISDIR(mode))
+			p = process_tree(lookup_tree(sha1), p, &me, name);
 		else
-			p = process_blob(entry->item.blob, p, &me, entry->name);
-		free(entry->name);
-		free(entry);
-		entry = next;
+			p = process_blob(lookup_blob(sha1), p, &me, name);
 	}
+	free(tree->buffer);
+	tree->buffer = NULL;
 	return p;
 }
 
diff --git a/fetch.c b/fetch.c
index ae92d5212e..ae65b42056 100644
--- a/fetch.c
+++ b/fetch.c
@@ -42,16 +42,22 @@ static int process_tree(struct tree *tree)
 	if (parse_tree(tree))
 		return -1;
 
-	entry = tree->entries;
-	tree->entries = NULL;
+	entry = create_tree_entry_list(tree);
 	while (entry) {
 		struct tree_entry_list *next = entry->next;
-		if (process(entry->item.any))
-			return -1;
-		free(entry->name);
+
+		if (entry->directory) {
+			struct tree *tree = lookup_tree(entry->sha1);
+			process_tree(tree);
+		} else {
+			struct blob *blob = lookup_blob(entry->sha1);
+			process(&blob->object);
+		}
 		free(entry);
 		entry = next;
 	}
+	free(tree->buffer);
+	tree->buffer = NULL;
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/fsck-objects.c b/fsck-objects.c
index 1922b6d84c..42778e87d0 100644
--- a/fsck-objects.c
+++ b/fsck-objects.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "cache-tree.h"
 
 #define REACHABLE 0x0001
+#define SEEN      0x0002
 
 static int show_root = 0;
 static int show_tags = 0;
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ static int fsck_tree(struct tree *item)
 	struct tree_entry_list *entry, *last;
 
 	last = NULL;
-	for (entry = item->entries; entry; entry = entry->next) {
+	for (entry = create_tree_entry_list(item); entry; entry = entry->next) {
 		if (strchr(entry->name, '/'))
 			has_full_path = 1;
 		has_zero_pad |= entry->zeropad;
@@ -198,17 +199,15 @@ static int fsck_tree(struct tree *item)
 			default:
 				break;
 			}
-			free(last->name);
 			free(last);
 		}
 
 		last = entry;
 	}
-	if (last) {
-		free(last->name);
+	if (last)
 		free(last);
-	}
-	item->entries = NULL;
+	free(item->buffer);
+	item->buffer = NULL;
 
 	retval = 0;
 	if (has_full_path) {
@@ -278,6 +277,9 @@ static int fsck_sha1(unsigned char *sha1)
 	struct object *obj = parse_object(sha1);
 	if (!obj)
 		return error("%s: object not found", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+	if (obj->flags & SEEN)
+		return 0;
+	obj->flags |= SEEN;
 	if (obj->type == blob_type)
 		return 0;
 	if (obj->type == tree_type)
@@ -465,6 +467,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	int i, heads;
 
+	track_object_refs = 1;
 	setup_git_directory();
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
diff --git a/git-fetch.sh b/git-fetch.sh
index 280f62e4b7..69bd810082 100755
--- a/git-fetch.sh
+++ b/git-fetch.sh
@@ -211,12 +211,12 @@ esac
 reflist=$(get_remote_refs_for_fetch "$@")
 if test "$tags"
 then
-	taglist=$(IFS="	" &&
+	taglist=`IFS="	" &&
 		  git-ls-remote $upload_pack --tags "$remote" |
 	          while read sha1 name
 		  do
 			case "$name" in
-			(*^*) continue ;;
+			*^*) continue ;;
 			esac
 		  	if git-check-ref-format "$name"
 			then
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ then
 			else
 			    echo >&2 "warning: tag ${name} ignored"
 			fi
-		  done)
+		  done`
 	if test "$#" -gt 1
 	then
 		# remote URL plus explicit refspecs; we need to merge them.
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index b4327d9243..72ad89ce11 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -1704,6 +1704,7 @@ static struct object_list **process_blob(struct blob *blob,
 		return p;
 
 	obj->flags |= SEEN;
+	name = strdup(name);
 	return add_object(obj, p, path, name);
 }
 
@@ -1713,7 +1714,7 @@ static struct object_list **process_tree(struct tree *tree,
 					 const char *name)
 {
 	struct object *obj = &tree->object;
-	struct tree_entry_list *entry;
+	struct tree_desc desc;
 	struct name_path me;
 
 	obj->flags |= LOCAL;
@@ -1724,21 +1725,30 @@ static struct object_list **process_tree(struct tree *tree,
 		die("bad tree object %s", sha1_to_hex(obj->sha1));
 
 	obj->flags |= SEEN;
+	name = strdup(name);
 	p = add_object(obj, p, NULL, name);
 	me.up = path;
 	me.elem = name;
 	me.elem_len = strlen(name);
-	entry = tree->entries;
-	tree->entries = NULL;
-	while (entry) {
-		struct tree_entry_list *next = entry->next;
-		if (entry->directory)
-			p = process_tree(entry->item.tree, p, &me, entry->name);
+
+	desc.buf = tree->buffer;
+	desc.size = tree->size;
+
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *name;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &name, &mode);
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+
+		if (S_ISDIR(mode))
+			p = process_tree(lookup_tree(sha1), p, &me, name);
 		else
-			p = process_blob(entry->item.blob, p, &me, entry->name);
-		free(entry);
-		entry = next;
+			p = process_blob(lookup_blob(sha1), p, &me, name);
 	}
+	free(tree->buffer);
+	tree->buffer = NULL;
 	return p;
 }
 
diff --git a/object.c b/object.c
index 4d46e0d5e4..9adc87479b 100644
--- a/object.c
+++ b/object.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ struct object **objs;
 static int nr_objs;
 int obj_allocs;
 
-int track_object_refs = 1;
+int track_object_refs = 0;
 
 static int hashtable_index(const unsigned char *sha1)
 {
@@ -200,8 +200,11 @@ struct object *parse_object(const unsigned char *sha1)
 			obj = &blob->object;
 		} else if (!strcmp(type, tree_type)) {
 			struct tree *tree = lookup_tree(sha1);
-			parse_tree_buffer(tree, buffer, size);
 			obj = &tree->object;
+			if (!tree->object.parsed) {
+				parse_tree_buffer(tree, buffer, size);
+				buffer = NULL;
+			}
 		} else if (!strcmp(type, commit_type)) {
 			struct commit *commit = lookup_commit(sha1);
 			parse_commit_buffer(commit, buffer, size);
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 42c077a4cb..c51ea833f9 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -63,14 +63,13 @@ void mark_tree_uninteresting(struct tree *tree)
 		return;
 	if (parse_tree(tree) < 0)
 		die("bad tree %s", sha1_to_hex(obj->sha1));
-	entry = tree->entries;
-	tree->entries = NULL;
+	entry = create_tree_entry_list(tree);
 	while (entry) {
 		struct tree_entry_list *next = entry->next;
 		if (entry->directory)
-			mark_tree_uninteresting(entry->item.tree);
+			mark_tree_uninteresting(lookup_tree(entry->sha1));
 		else
-			mark_blob_uninteresting(entry->item.blob);
+			mark_blob_uninteresting(lookup_blob(entry->sha1));
 		free(entry);
 		entry = next;
 	}
diff --git a/tree-walk.c b/tree-walk.c
index 9f7abb7cb3..3922058271 100644
--- a/tree-walk.c
+++ b/tree-walk.c
@@ -47,18 +47,33 @@ void update_tree_entry(struct tree_desc *desc)
 	desc->size = size - len;
 }
 
+static const char *get_mode(const char *str, unsigned int *modep)
+{
+	unsigned char c;
+	unsigned int mode = 0;
+
+	while ((c = *str++) != ' ') {
+		if (c < '0' || c > '7')
+			return NULL;
+		mode = (mode << 3) + (c - '0');
+	}
+	*modep = mode;
+	return str;
+}
+
 const unsigned char *tree_entry_extract(struct tree_desc *desc, const char **pathp, unsigned int *modep)
 {
 	void *tree = desc->buf;
 	unsigned long size = desc->size;
 	int len = strlen(tree)+1;
 	const unsigned char *sha1 = tree + len;
-	const char *path = strchr(tree, ' ');
+	const char *path;
 	unsigned int mode;
 
-	if (!path || size < len + 20 || sscanf(tree, "%o", &mode) != 1)
+	path = get_mode(tree, &mode);
+	if (!path || size < len + 20)
 		die("corrupt tree file");
-	*pathp = path+1;
+	*pathp = path;
 	*modep = canon_mode(mode);
 	return sha1;
 }
diff --git a/tree.c b/tree.c
index d599fb5e1a..db6e59f20e 100644
--- a/tree.c
+++ b/tree.c
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 #include "blob.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "tag.h"
+#include "tree-walk.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 const char *tree_type = "tree";
 
-static int read_one_entry(unsigned char *sha1, const char *base, int baselen, const char *pathname, unsigned mode, int stage)
+static int read_one_entry(const unsigned char *sha1, const char *base, int baselen, const char *pathname, unsigned mode, int stage)
 {
 	int len;
 	unsigned int size;
@@ -77,19 +78,26 @@ int read_tree_recursive(struct tree *tree,
 			int stage, const char **match,
 			read_tree_fn_t fn)
 {
-	struct tree_entry_list *list;
+	struct tree_desc desc;
+
 	if (parse_tree(tree))
 		return -1;
-	list = tree->entries;
-	while (list) {
-		struct tree_entry_list *current = list;
-		list = list->next;
-		if (!match_tree_entry(base, baselen, current->name,
-				      current->mode, match))
+
+	desc.buf = tree->buffer;
+	desc.size = tree->size;
+
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *name;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &name, &mode);
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+
+		if (!match_tree_entry(base, baselen, name, mode, match))
 			continue;
 
-		switch (fn(current->item.any->sha1, base, baselen,
-			   current->name, current->mode, stage)) {
+		switch (fn(sha1, base, baselen, name, mode, stage)) {
 		case 0:
 			continue;
 		case READ_TREE_RECURSIVE:
@@ -97,16 +105,16 @@ int read_tree_recursive(struct tree *tree,
 		default:
 			return -1;
 		}
-		if (current->directory) {
+		if (S_ISDIR(mode)) {
 			int retval;
-			int pathlen = strlen(current->name);
+			int pathlen = strlen(name);
 			char *newbase;
 
 			newbase = xmalloc(baselen + 1 + pathlen);
 			memcpy(newbase, base, baselen);
-			memcpy(newbase + baselen, current->name, pathlen);
+			memcpy(newbase + baselen, name, pathlen);
 			newbase[baselen + pathlen] = '/';
-			retval = read_tree_recursive(current->item.tree,
+			retval = read_tree_recursive(lookup_tree(sha1),
 						     newbase,
 						     baselen + pathlen + 1,
 						     stage, match, fn);
@@ -143,62 +151,97 @@ struct tree *lookup_tree(const unsigned char *sha1)
 	return (struct tree *) obj;
 }
 
+static int track_tree_refs(struct tree *item)
+{
+	int n_refs = 0, i;
+	struct object_refs *refs;
+	struct tree_desc desc;
+
+	/* Count how many entries there are.. */
+	desc.buf = item->buffer;
+	desc.size = item->size;
+	while (desc.size) {
+		n_refs++;
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+	}
+
+	/* Allocate object refs and walk it again.. */
+	i = 0;
+	refs = alloc_object_refs(n_refs);
+	desc.buf = item->buffer;
+	desc.size = item->size;
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *name;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
+		struct object *obj;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &name, &mode);
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
+		if (S_ISDIR(mode))
+			obj = &lookup_tree(sha1)->object;
+		else
+			obj = &lookup_blob(sha1)->object;
+		refs->ref[i++] = obj;
+	}
+	set_object_refs(&item->object, refs);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int parse_tree_buffer(struct tree *item, void *buffer, unsigned long size)
 {
-	void *bufptr = buffer;
-	struct tree_entry_list **list_p;
-	int n_refs = 0;
-
 	if (item->object.parsed)
 		return 0;
 	item->object.parsed = 1;
-	list_p = &item->entries;
-	while (size) {
-		struct object *obj;
+	item->buffer = buffer;
+	item->size = size;
+
+	if (track_object_refs)
+		track_tree_refs(item);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+struct tree_entry_list *create_tree_entry_list(struct tree *tree)
+{
+	struct tree_desc desc;
+	struct tree_entry_list *ret = NULL;
+	struct tree_entry_list **list_p = &ret;
+
+	desc.buf = tree->buffer;
+	desc.size = tree->size;
+
+	while (desc.size) {
+		unsigned mode;
+		const char *path;
+		const unsigned char *sha1;
 		struct tree_entry_list *entry;
-		int len = 1+strlen(bufptr);
-		unsigned char *file_sha1 = bufptr + len;
-		char *path = strchr(bufptr, ' ');
-		unsigned int mode;
-		if (size < len + 20 || !path || 
-		    sscanf(bufptr, "%o", &mode) != 1)
-			return -1;
+
+		sha1 = tree_entry_extract(&desc, &path, &mode);
 
 		entry = xmalloc(sizeof(struct tree_entry_list));
-		entry->name = strdup(path + 1);
+		entry->name = path;
+		entry->sha1 = sha1;
+		entry->mode = mode;
 		entry->directory = S_ISDIR(mode) != 0;
 		entry->executable = (mode & S_IXUSR) != 0;
 		entry->symlink = S_ISLNK(mode) != 0;
-		entry->zeropad = *(char *)bufptr == '0';
-		entry->mode = mode;
+		entry->zeropad = *(const char *)(desc.buf) == '0';
 		entry->next = NULL;
 
-		bufptr += len + 20;
-		size -= len + 20;
-
-		if (entry->directory) {
-			entry->item.tree = lookup_tree(file_sha1);
-			obj = &entry->item.tree->object;
-		} else {
-			entry->item.blob = lookup_blob(file_sha1);
-			obj = &entry->item.blob->object;
-		}
-		if (obj)
-			n_refs++;
+		update_tree_entry(&desc);
 		*list_p = entry;
 		list_p = &entry->next;
 	}
+	return ret;
+}
 
-	if (track_object_refs) {
-		struct tree_entry_list *entry;
-		unsigned i = 0;
-		struct object_refs *refs = alloc_object_refs(n_refs);
-		for (entry = item->entries; entry; entry = entry->next)
-			refs->ref[i++] = entry->item.any;
-		set_object_refs(&item->object, refs);
+void free_tree_entry_list(struct tree_entry_list *list)
+{
+	while (list) {
+		struct tree_entry_list *next = list->next;
+		free(list);
+		list = next;
 	}
-
-	return 0;
 }
 
 int parse_tree(struct tree *item)
@@ -206,7 +249,6 @@ int parse_tree(struct tree *item)
 	 char type[20];
 	 void *buffer;
 	 unsigned long size;
-	 int ret;
 
 	if (item->object.parsed)
 		return 0;
@@ -219,9 +261,7 @@ int parse_tree(struct tree *item)
 		return error("Object %s not a tree",
 			     sha1_to_hex(item->object.sha1));
 	}
-	ret = parse_tree_buffer(item, buffer, size);
-	free(buffer);
-	return ret;
+	return parse_tree_buffer(item, buffer, size);
 }
 
 struct tree *parse_tree_indirect(const unsigned char *sha1)
diff --git a/tree.h b/tree.h
index 330ab64bbd..c7b524861b 100644
--- a/tree.h
+++ b/tree.h
@@ -12,19 +12,19 @@ struct tree_entry_list {
 	unsigned symlink : 1;
 	unsigned zeropad : 1;
 	unsigned int mode;
-	char *name;
-	union {
-		struct object *any;
-		struct tree *tree;
-		struct blob *blob;
-	} item;
+	const char *name;
+	const unsigned char *sha1;
 };
 
 struct tree {
 	struct object object;
-	struct tree_entry_list *entries;
+	void *buffer;
+	unsigned long size;
 };
 
+struct tree_entry_list *create_tree_entry_list(struct tree *);
+void free_tree_entry_list(struct tree_entry_list *);
+
 struct tree *lookup_tree(const unsigned char *sha1);
 
 int parse_tree_buffer(struct tree *item, void *buffer, unsigned long size);
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ int parse_tree(struct tree *tree);
 struct tree *parse_tree_indirect(const unsigned char *sha1);
 
 #define READ_TREE_RECURSIVE 1
-typedef int (*read_tree_fn_t)(unsigned char *, const char *, int, const char *, unsigned int, int);
+typedef int (*read_tree_fn_t)(const unsigned char *, const char *, int, const char *, unsigned int, int);
 
 extern int read_tree_recursive(struct tree *tree,
 			       const char *base, int baselen,